Recreational Player learning curve efficency

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I personally advise less serious hobby players who only play 1-2 times a week to put anti spin rubber on their weak BH and develop their 4H offense. You can learn how to use the anti for serve return very fast and also fast for blocking loops. That is the most efficient use of leisure time for a less serious player's recreational TT learning curve. 

Then, after you have gained 4H offensive expertise, you will have gained confidence so you may decide to implement inverted rubber or LP's for your BH into your style. 

A hobby player, with a dominant forehand/weak backhand, can usually increase their class rating one level simply by putting anti-spin on their backhand, after learning how to use it. Anti-spin allows them to handle difficult serves, loops, set up power shots for the 4H, etc. I once took a very low level player approximately 1000, let him use a paddle I had with anti-spin on one side, showed him how to use it. After about 45-60 minutes of use, I asked a player rated 1600 to serve his best stuff to him. The anti-spin player was able to return 80% of the serves. I then asked the anti-spin player to use his normal two sided inverted rubber paddle, I asked the 1600 rated player now to serve to him again, he couldn't return over 20% of the serves without popping them up big or off the table. An anti-spin backhand can hit offensive shots against backspin a lot easier than a person using regular inverted rubber. Long pips are harder to control and a lot more difficult to learn. Moral of the story - to simplify the game -  develop your 4H for offense and put anti-spin on your BH to handle serve returns and block loops. It is probably the most time efficient method to develop your skill level. 

 Almost all beginning hobby players use an improper grip which causes them not to develop properly. You can use a 4H dominant shake hand grip without hurting your anti BH.  

Many years ago, I bought a sheet of anti spin rubber. I practiced briefly with it and really didn't know how to use it properly. My first match using the anti rubber I beat an inverted player USATT rated 1800. I made 3-5 unforced errors each game which were pop ups by the anti for easy hits because of my inexperience. Another benefit of anti spin rubber is durability. My sheet of anti spin rubber is 20 years old and plays like when I purchased it. 

Added edit:

My sheet of anti with 2.0 super soft sponge is like a glass window. 

Anti is an excellent choice for any hobby player under USATT 1800 and especially senior players with limited mobility who play close to the table all the time. 

Edited by LUCKYLOOP - 08/19/2013 at 8:05pm